ZTE Max XL (N9560) Firmware Flash File Download [Stock Rom]
The ZTE Max XL (model N9560) was a highly popular “phablet” in 2017, known for its large 6-inch Full HD screen and affordability on US prepaid carriers like Boost Mobile, Sprint, and Virgin Mobile. If your ZTE Max XL is stuck on the Boost Mobile logo, suffering from constant software crashes, or is completely bricked, flashing the official stock firmware is the best way to bring it back to life.
Important Note: This smartphone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 chipset. The restoration process requires putting the phone into EDL Mode and using the QFIL (Qualcomm Flash Image Loader) tool. This firmware will restore the official Android 7.1.1 Nougat operating system and all original carrier software.
Quick Device Specs
- Device: ZTE Max XL (N9560)
- Release year: 2017
- Chipset: Qualcomm MSM8940 Snapdragon 435
- Display: 6.0″ IPS LCD, 1920×1080
- Battery: 3990 mAh (Non-removable)
- Memory: 2GB RAM + 16GB storage
- Camera: 13MP rear, 5MP front
- OS: Android 7.1.1 (Nougat)
- Carriers: USA Prepaid (Boost Mobile, Sprint, Virgin Mobile)
Required Downloads
| File / Tool | Download Link |
|---|---|
| QPST (QFIL) Tool | Download QPST Tool |
| Qualcomm USB Drivers | Download Drivers |
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Stock ROM & Firmware
| Build | Android | Carrier | Type | Download | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NMF26F | 7.1.1 (Nougat) | USA Prepaid | QPST | Download | ~1.6 GB |
How to Flash Using QFIL
- Install Drivers: Download and install the Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader drivers. You may need to restart your PC after installation and disable Driver Signature Enforcement in Windows for the drivers to be recognized.
- Extract Firmware and QPST: Unzip the downloaded firmware package (…QPST.zip) into a folder. You will see the programmer file (prog_…mbn) and several XML files. Also, extract the QPST tool.
- Launch QFIL: Open the QPST installation directory (e.g., C:\Program Files (x86)\Qualcomm\QPST\bin) and run QFIL.exe.
- Enter EDL Mode: Power off your ZTE Max XL completely. Press and hold both the Volume Up + Volume Down buttons. While holding them down, connect the phone to your PC with a USB cable. The phone’s screen will remain blank.
- Load Firmware Files in QFIL:
- The top of the QFIL window should now display “Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008”. If not, your drivers are not installed correctly.
- Select Flat Build as the build type.
- Click “Browse…” next to Programmer Path and select the prog_emmc_firehose… file from the firmware folder.
- Click “Load XML…” and select the rawprogram… file, followed by the patch… file.
- Begin Flashing: Click the blue “Download” button. QFIL will begin flashing the stock firmware to your device.
- Wait for Success: Do not unplug the device. The process is complete when the status log shows “Download Succeeded.”
- Reboot: Disconnect the phone and hold the Power button until it vibrates and begins to boot. The first boot after a full flash can take 15 minutes or more.
FAQs
Q1. Will this firmware remove the Boost Mobile or Sprint network lock?
No. This is official stock firmware, which restores the phone’s software to its factory state but does not affect the SIM lock. The device will remain locked to its original carrier.
Q2. Can I use this firmware to upgrade my phone to Android Oreo or higher?
No. Android 7.1.1 Nougat was the last official version of Android released for the ZTE Max XL. This firmware is for restoring that version, not for upgrading.
Q3. My phone is stuck on the Boost Mobile logo. Will this fix it?
Yes. A bootloop is a very common software issue that is almost always fixed by a clean flash of the stock firmware using this QFIL method. After the flash, be sure to let the first boot run for at least 15 minutes. If it’s still stuck, perform a factory reset from recovery mode.
Q4. What is EDL Mode?
EDL (Emergency Download) Mode is a special, low-level recovery state on Qualcomm-powered devices. It allows tools like QFIL to communicate directly with the phone’s storage (eMMC), bypassing the corrupted operating system. This makes it possible to “unbrick” a phone that will not turn on or is stuck in a severe bootloop.
Troubleshooting (ZTE Max XL)
- QFIL shows “No Port Available” or gives a “Sahara” error: This is the most common problem and is always related to drivers or the connection. Reinstall the Qualcomm 9008 drivers, use a different USB port, try a new USB cable, and make sure the phone is completely off before entering EDL mode.
- “Invalid SIM” error: This is normal if you are using a non-Sprint network SIM card (like from AT&T, T-Mobile, or an international carrier). The phone is network-locked.
- The phone bootloops even after a successful flash: If the flash completes successfully but the phone still won’t boot past the carrier logo (after waiting 15+ minutes), you should boot into recovery mode (hold Volume Up + Power from off) and perform a “Wipe data/factory reset”.
- Device still won’t turn on or flash fails repeatedly: While rare, if the phone cannot be recovered even with a clean flash, it may indicate a hardware issue, such as a failing eMMC (the internal storage chip).
